Monastery of Veselinje: Serbian Patriarch Irinej consecrates memorial church in glory and honour of the Glamoc hieromartyrs

25. July 2012 - 11:51

On Sunday, 7th after the Pentecost, on July 22 2012, on the day of the memory of hieromartyrs of Glamoc Sima and Mirko, hieromartyr Pancratius and Saint Theodor, His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, upon the invitation of His Grace Bishop Hrizostom of Bihac-Petrovac came to the monastery of Veselinje in the village of Vrba near Glamoc.

This is the second Serbian Patriarch who visits Glamocko Polje. The predecessor of Patriarch Irinej, Patriarch Pavle of blessed repose, visited Glamoc and Glamocko Polje from August 9-11, 1991. On that occasion, July 10, Patriarch Pavle served teh Divine Liturgy and the requiem above the relics of new martyrs of Glamoc excavated from Koricine and other profounds around Glamoc. Next day, on July 11, 1991 Patriarch Pavle served the Liturgy and the requiem for new martyrs of Lijevljane, and after that the requiem for new martyrs in Krnjesa near Bosanski Petrovac. So 21 year later, his successor, Serbian Patriarch Irinej Gavrilovic visits Glamocko Polje in order to consecrate the memorial church of new martyrs of Glamoc.

The construction of this church began in 1991 and timely this 2012 it has been finished and prepared for this consecration. The memorial church of new martyrs of Glamoc, by the decision of His Grace Bishop Hrizostom of Bihac-Petrovac is devoted to hiermartyrs of Glamoc, Sima and Mirko and other martyrs who died with them. In the crypt of the church a memorial ossuary was created in which were laid relics of 806 martyrs, excavated in 1991.

On the day of the arrival of His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch Serbs from Glamocko Polje and surroundings came to the Veselinje monastery to welcome and greet their Patriarch. Around 9 a. m. His Holiness came to the monastery accompanied by Their Graces Bishops Hrizostom, Vasilije of Srem and Lukijan of Osek-Polje. At the monastery Serbian Patriarch was welcomed by His Grace Bishop Grigorije of Zahumlje-Herzegovina.

Warmly welcomed at the court yard of the monastery, Serbian Patriarch Irinej wnet to the Cathedral monastery church of Saint John the Baptist, from which he took the relics to the newly built monastery in which the relics would be laid.

After the consecration of the churhc of new martyrs, His Holiness and Their Graces Bishops served the Divine Liturgy in the presence of lots of people.

After the Liturgy, Their Graces and Patriarch held sermons and then had a table of love.